📝 Maruša Tereza Šerkezi • 📸 Grega Stopar

Ogrevam se. Napetost narašča.

Sodnik zakliče: »Še 5 minut do startnih boksov!« Umaknem se v svoj notranji svet in se prepustim glasbi v ušesih. Pred startom imam rada mir, zato je ob meni le še oče, moj trener.

Ko me kot prvo tekmovalko pokličejo na startno črto, začutim navdušenje, a hkrati velik pritisk, ki ga prinaša številka 1 (1. mesto na mednarodni UCI-lestvici v disciplini gorsko kolesarstvo – olimpijski kros, kategorija mladinke).

Umirjam se. Čez misli mi švigajo vsi pristni občutki s proge (ustrezala mi je, saj je bila zelo tehnična, z zares strmimi in dolgimi klanci), dobro opravljeni pretekli treningi ter vsa odrekanja. Bila sem pripravljena iti v pekel in naprej.

Vedela sem, da bo start zelo hiter. Vseeno me je presenetil. Kot avto, ki pri 120 km/h spusti zavore. Izgubila sem kar nekaj mest. Nisem »paničarila«.

Pred svetovnim prvenstvom sem naredila veliko hitrih treningov sprinta, saj po naravi nisem eksploziven človek – sploh ne v prvih petih sekundah. Bolj mi ležijo dolgi klanci ter pedaliranje v ritmu, tempu. Napredek je bil sicer velik, a očitno so bile moje sotekmovalke še nekoliko boljše. Svoje je naredila tudi višina. Dirka je bila na 1900 metrih nad morjem.

Po prvem klancu sem se prebila na drugo pozicijo. Pred mano je bila le še tekmovalka iz Čila. Nisem še tekmovala z njo, zato me je presenetil njen res hitro odpeljani prvi krog. Igrala sem se z mislijo trenerja: »Ne zaženi se. Čakaj. Taktiziraj.«

Spomnim se, da sem na polovici prvega kroga imela jezik že do tal.

Šlo je na vse ali nič. Za kratek trenutek, ko me je prehitelo nekaj tekmovalk, so se pojavile skrbi, ali sem sploh zmožna priti med najboljših 10. A hitro sem se zbrala in se odločila, da bom držala svoj tempo. Kmalu sem ujela prvo zasledovalno skupino.

V skupni tehnični in okrepni coni so me čakali trener, Jakob Smolnikar za servis in selektor reprezentance Matjaž Budin. Dogovorjeni smo bili za energijske gele in mrzlo vodo. Selektor Budin je na začetku cone držal gel, nekje na sredini pa oče – trener bidon z vodo. Bila sem osredotočena, saj je šla cona po grbinasti travi in so tekmovalke pred mano že padale.

Vzela sem samo vodo, da sem si polila glavo, kar me je osvežilo. Gele Amacx imam vedno s sabo in z njim sem se okrepčala na zgornjem ravnem delu proge. Vsak drugi krog enega, s kofeinom in primerno sestavo hidratov, da čim prej “prime”. Poplaknila sem s tekočino iz bidona, ki sem jo vozila s sabo.

Kaj je v bidonu?

Ne vem. Očetova skrivnostna mešanica. Pravi, da je napoj iz Asterixa. Na meni očitno deluje.

Prva tekmovalka, Slovakinja, se je že odcepila in ohranjala prednost čez celo tekmovanje ter na koncu slavila zmago. Med nami, zasledovalkami, pa se je bil boj za življenje – no, za preostala mesta, ki so vodila na stopničke. Prišlo je do prvih padcev zaradi pomanjkanja koncentracije, saj tempo res ni dopuščal počitka in napak. Kmalu sem ostala sama s Kanadčanko Rafo. Skupaj sva vozili vse kroge. Živciral me je njen način vožnje – veliko je vstajala in pospeševala, sama pa sem za njo vozila ves čas sede.

Vzdušje je bilo fenomenalno. Moji glavni navijači ob progi – brat Joža, oči v tehnični coni, mami ter direktor mojega kluba KD Rajd, Tine Mahkovec – so verjetno pretekli cel maraton po progi. Bili so na vseh koncih. Od njihovih spodbudnih besed me še vedno spreletijo mravljinci.

Gremo nazaj – Kanadčanka Rafael je bila na koncu, na mojo žalost, nekoliko močnejša. Odcepila se je na polovici zadnjega kroga. Dirko sem do konca odpeljala premišljeno, saj si nisem smela privoščiti napake, ker so bile prve zasledovalke blizu. Ko sem zagledala ciljno črto in jo prečkala kot tretja, so me preplavili neverjetni občutki: olajšanje, veselje, ponos – še toliko bolj pa tiste čustvene solze, ko se ti v objem vržejo tvoji najbližji, ki so s tabo na poti že od začetka in te podpirajo skozi vse vzpone in padce.

Nikoli si nisem predstavljala, da bom kdaj prijela bronasto medaljo s svetovnega prvenstva v svoje roke in si jo obesila okrog vratu. Občutek je neprecenljiv.

Kmalu so sledili intervjuji in fotografiranje. Ena izmed mojih izjav v intervjuju je bila, da je bila to najtežja tekma življenja – kot dokaz me je po cilju še 15 minut pekel nos.

Še vedno se nasmejim svoji »pametni« odločitvi, da pred tekmo nisem šla na malo potrebo, saj sem hotela – v primeru dopinške kontrole – čim prej napolniti lonček. Na koncu mi ga seveda ni bilo treba. Odleglo mi je. Na evropskem prvenstvu je oddajanje vzorca trajalo kar dve uri. Čista dehidracija.

Sledil je najboljši del tekmovalnega dne – ko sem sproščeno navijala za fante U19. Ta dirka je bila res »next level«. Noro! Fantje so šli dobesedno na nož. Po njihovi zaključeni dirki smo se vrnili v apartma in se z najetim kombijem odpravili domov. Z bratom sva imela na zadnjih sedežih narejeno posteljo. Gledala sva serijo Game of Thrones.

Andora me je res očarala. Je na prvem mestu po lepoti med državami, ki sem jih obiskala. Veliko prelazov, arhitektura, prostrani pašniki in konji, prijazni ljudje … Res lepa gorska država. Zagotovo se bom še vrnila.

Hkrati pa mi bo ostala v posebnem spominu, saj sem tukaj spoznala svojo novo ekipo – CUBE Factory Team.

A o tem kaj več – naslednjič.

Here is the full English translation of my text done by ChatGPT Version 1.2025.168

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I’m warming up. The tension is rising.

The referee shouts: “5 minutes to the start boxes!” I retreat into my inner world and let the music in my ears take over. Before the start, I like peace and quiet, so it’s just my dad—my coach—by my side.

When they call me to the start line as the first rider, I feel a rush of excitement, but also the heavy pressure that comes with wearing number 1 (first place on the international UCI ranking in mountain biking – Olympic cross-country, junior women’s category).

I calm myself. My mind flashes through all the raw emotions from the course (which suited me well, as it was very technical, with seriously steep and long climbs), all the well-executed training sessions, and every sacrifice made. I was ready to go through hell—and beyond.

I knew the start would be fast. But it still surprised me. Like a car slamming on the brakes at 120 km/h. I lost quite a few places. I didn’t panic.

Before the World Championships, I had done lots of sprint training, because I’m not naturally explosive—especially not in the first five seconds. Long climbs and riding in rhythm, in tempo, suit me better. I had made solid progress, but clearly, some of my competitors were still a bit stronger. The altitude played its part, too. The race took place at 1,900 meters above sea level.

After the first climb, I moved into second position. Only a rider from Chile was ahead of me. I had never raced against her before, so I was surprised by how fast she rode the first lap. I kept repeating my coach’s advice in my mind: “Don’t go too early. Wait. Be tactical.”

I remember that by the halfway point of the first lap, my tongue was already dragging on the ground.

It was all or nothing. For a brief moment, when a few riders passed me, I started to worry whether I could even finish in the top 10. But I quickly refocused and decided to stick to my own pace. Soon, I caught up with the first chase group.

In the main tech/feed zone were my coach, Jakob Smolnikar was waiting to provide mechanical support, and the national team selector Matjaž Budin was there as well. We had planned to pass energy gels and cold water. Selector Budin held out a gel at the start of the zone, and my dad—also my coach—handed me a bottle of water halfway through. I stayed fully focused because the zone crossed bumpy grass, and some riders ahead of me had already crashed.

I only took the water to pour over my head, which gave me a refreshing boost. I always carry Amacx gels with me, and I used one on the flatter part of the course. One every second lap—with caffeine and just the right balance of carbs so it kicks in fast. I washed it down with the drink from my own bottle.

What was in the bottle?

I don’t know. My dad’s secret mix. He says it’s a potion from Asterix. Apparently, it works on me.

The first rider, from Slovakia, had already broken away and held her lead throughout the race, eventually taking the win. Among the rest of us—the chasers—it was a battle for life, or well… for the remaining podium spots. There were a few crashes caused by lapses in concentration, as the pace left absolutely no room for rest or mistakes. Soon, it was just me and the Canadian, Rafa, riding together the entire race. Her riding style frustrated me—she kept standing and accelerating, while I rode behind her, seated, the entire time.

The atmosphere was phenomenal. My main supporters along the course—my brother Joža, my dad in the tech zone, my mom, and the director of my club KD Rajd, Tine Mahkovec—probably ran a full marathon just to follow the race. They were everywhere. I still get goosebumps from their encouraging words.

Back to the race—unfortunately, the Canadian, Rafael, turned out to be a bit stronger in the end. She pulled away halfway through the final lap. I rode the rest of the race carefully, knowing I couldn’t afford a single mistake, as the first chasers were right behind me. When I saw the finish line and crossed it in third place, I was overwhelmed with emotions: relief, joy, pride—and above all, those emotional tears when your loved ones, who’ve been with you from the very beginning, throw their arms around you and celebrate every climb and fall with you.

I never imagined that one day I would hold a World Championship bronze medal in my hands and hang it around my neck. The feeling is truly priceless.

Soon after came the interviews and photos. One of the things I said during an interview was that this had been the hardest race of my life—and as proof, my nose kept burning for 15 minutes after the finish.

I still laugh at my “smart” decision not to go for a quick pee before the race. I wanted to be ready—just in case of a doping control—to fill the cup as quickly as possible. In the end, of course, it wasn’t needed. What a relief. At the European Championships, it took me two full hours to give a sample. Total dehydration.

Then came the best part of the race day—cheering for the U19 boys. That race was truly next level. Insane! The guys gave it absolutely everything. After their race, we returned to the apartment and then hit the road home in a rented van. My brother and I had a bed set up on the back seats. We watched Game of Thrones.

Andorra truly enchanted me. It now ranks first among the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited. So many mountain passes, stunning architecture, vast pastures and horses, friendly people… Such a beautiful mountain country. I’ll definitely return one day.

And it will always hold a special place in my memory—because it’s where I met my new team: the CUBE Factory Team.

But more on that … next time.

Kolumna Maruše Tereze Šerkezi je bila ekskluzivno objavljena v reviji Bicikel, št. 123/2025 (str. 32–33). 👉 Ne zamudi celotne številke! Poišči revijo na prodajnih mestih ali naroči svoj izvod na www.bicikel.com.
Maruša Tereza Šerkezi’s column was published exclusively in Bicikel magazine, issue 123/2025 (pp. 32–33). 👉 Don’t miss the full issue! Find the magazine in stores or order your copy at www.bicikel.com.